08/08/1949 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ 467 PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS I 12 THE FOLLOWING PETITION TO REZONE WAS SUBMITTED AND READ. PLANNING COMMISSION CITY VIEW - PORTIONS OF WEST PARK SUB- ~ RECOMMENDATION OF THE - 18TH & .~ DIVISION. :o!;] .".. IT WAS MOVED BV 800Tli, SECONDED BY HAWN THA T THE PETITION BE REFERRED TO THE CITV ATTORNEV FOR THE NECESSARY RESOLUTION. MOTION CARRIED. 13 A PETITION FROM PROPERTY OWNERS IN THE VICINITY OF THE INTERSECTION OF 26TH AND COLUMBIA I REQUEST ING THE COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER ACTION BETWEEN COLUMBIA AND CHULA VISTA AND TO CONS IDER PERMANENT VACATION OF THAT SECTION WAS SUBMITTED. IT WAS "HE DECISION or THE COUNCIL TO PROCEEO WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF THIS STREET BY PASSING ON COUNCIL BILL No. 633 AND 634. 14 A PETITION BEARING THE NAMES OF 181 BUSINESSMEN AND PROPERTY OWNERS LOCATED IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OPPOSING THE ONE-WAY TRAFFIC GRID SYSTEM WAS PRESENTED. IT READ AS FOLLOWS: "WE, THE UNDERS I GNED, HAVE A VITAL INTEREST IN.THE WELFARE, GROWTH AND STABILIZATION OF THE BUSINESS SECTION OF THE CITV OF EUGENE AND IN THE MOST EFFICIENT UTILIZATION OF OUR DOWNTOWN STREETS; WE ARE OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES ,AND OWNERS OF REAL PRO PERT Y IN THE BUSINESS SECTION; WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENTS IN.BUSINESSES AND PROPERTY IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS SECTION OF EUGENE; AND WE THEREFORE, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE PRESENT "GRID" TRAF" C SYSTEM IN EUGENE BE MODIFIED AS FOLLOWS: RESTORE IMMEDIATELY TWO-WAY TRAffIC TO WllLAMETTE STREET, HIGH STREET AND BROADWAY. THIS PETITION IS PRESENTED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS BASED UPON THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE "GRID" SYSTEM AS CURRENTLY OPERATING: A. IMMEDIATE DETRIMENT TO BU SIN E 5 S I. THE PRE SEN T S YS TEM HAS WORKED GREAT HARDSHIP ON NUMEROUS BUS I NESS FI RMS WHICH I DEPEND UPON NORMAL TWO-WAY TRAFFIC FOR SUCCESSFUL OPERATION. , 2. THE UNORTHODOX TRAFFl C PATTERN IS CONFUSING TO TOURISTs AND TO PE RSONS IN OUTLYING COMMUNITIES WHO MAY WISH TO TRANSACT BUSINESS IN EUGENE AND HAS HAD THE EFFECT OF DISCOURAGING THEM FROM COMING INTO THE BUSINESS DISTRICT. B. tONG-RANGE DETRIMENTAL EffECTS I . THE DESTRUCTION OF THE NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN WILL ULTIMATELV HAVE A PRONOUNCED EFFECT ON PROPERTY AND RENTAL VALUES; THE RESULT "ILL BE THAT MANY PRESENTLY VALUABLE LOCATIONS WILL BE GREATLY IMPAIRED IN VALUE. THE VALUE OF THE PRESENT BUSINESS SITES RESULTS FROM HISTORIC TRAFFIC PATTERNS; CHANGING THIS FLOW OF TRAFFIC WILL, IN THE COURSE OF TIME, CAUSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS, ALONG NEW TRAFFIC ROUTES AND WILL DESTROY PRESENT BUSINESS VALUES. 2. THE PRESENT BUSINESS SECTION WILL LOST MUCH BUSINESS TO OTHER AREAS WH I CH DO NOT HAVE CONFUSING TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS TO HAMPER THE BUYING PUBLIC AND WHICH AFFORD EASIER ACCESS AND MANEUVERABILITY. THE PRESENT SYSTEM HAS HAD THE EFFECT OF. RENDERING MANY BUSINESSES LESS USEFUL TO THE PUBLIC. 3. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW BUSINESSES AND THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PRESENT BUSINESSES WILL BE DISCOURAGED; A STABLE AND FRIENDLY BUSINESS CLIMATE IS A PRIME REQUISITE TO NEW BUSINESSES AND INVESTMENTS. THE WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS DISTRICT IN EUGENE DEPENDS TO A LARGE EXTENT ON THE CONFIDENCE INVESTORS MAY HAVE IN THE PERMANENCE OF SHOPPING LOCATIONS AND AREAS. SUCH INNOVATIONS AS I ONE-WAY TRAFFIC ON THE MAIN BUSINESS STREETS CREATE A NOTE OF UNCERTAINTY PARTICULARLY iN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT LATER ACTION MIGHT AGAIN ALTER THE PICTURE. C. OTHER DISTURBING DEFECTS IN THE "GRID" SYSTEM I. CONFUS I ON OF TRAFFIC AT INTERSECTIONS UPON LEAVING THE "GRID" SYSTEM AND ENTERING THE TWO-WAY STREETS. 2. DANGEROUS-CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM THE PRACTICE OF DRIVERS IN "JOCKEYING" FROM ONE LANE TO THE OTHER TO REACH PARKING SPACES AN D TO MANEUVER INTO THE PROPER I LANE FOR TURNS. 3. LEAKAGE FROM GAS TAN KS AS THE RESULT OF PARKING CARS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE STREETS. 4. THE GENERAL TENDENCY OF THE SYSTEM IS TO MAKE FOR CARELESS AND UNNATURAL DRIVING HABITS. THE FOLLOWING REMEDIAL MEASURES ARE SUGGESTED AS MORE ORTHODOX MEANS OF SOLVING OUR TRAFFIC PRO BLEMS: I . DEVELOP ARTERIALS ALONG THE LINES LAID DOWN BV THE PLANNING BOARD. 2. CFF-STREET PARKING LOTS FINANCED BY REVENUE FROM PARKING METERS. 3. REMOVAL OF ALL PARKING FROM THE MAIN STREETS DURING PEAK TRAFFIC PERIODS. ~~~ -~.~ "~